Frequently Asked Questions

What are Feed-in Tariffs (FITs)?

The Government pays a set tariff per kilowatt-hour your turbine generates – known as Feed-in Tariffs (FITs). How much electricity you generate and how it is used (used on site or sold back to the grid) will determine how much money you receive.

How much will an Archimedean Screw turbine cost?

Of course the answer is, it depends.

Each installation is bespoke, with the size and configuration determined by client requirements and the characteristics of their site. Why not talk with one of our hydropower specialists now to gauge the level of investment necessary for your turbine?

What makes an Archimedean Screw fish friendly?

Unlike other turbines the unique design and relatively slow revolution speed of the Archimedean Screw turbine allows fish to travel safely along its length. Conventional turbines operate with a fast blade rotation, causing a high risk of injury to fish – as do the water pressure changes they create.

For more details take a look at our page ‘Fish-friendly hydropower‘ where you’ll also find evidence of our extensive testing and trialling of the technology in partnership with the Environment Agency.

Do I have to use MannPower for every stage of the installation?

Absolutely not. While Mann Power would be delighted to take your hydropower project from conception to commissioning, we’re also happy to work on specific, individual stages of the process. We have experience applying our expertise to each of the five principal stages of the Archimedean Screw hydropower turbine installation:

We’ve developed productive working relationships with many clients’ contractors, providing technical and hands-on guidance.

Is my site suitable for an Archimedean Screw turbine?

Naturally Mann Power will conduct a detailed feasibility study on your behalf but there are a few key features whose presence will determine the location’s viability for a Screw.

The basic requirements to host a screw are:

A water source with a drop of at least 1.1 metres

Access rights to that water source (or ability to agree access rights in the near future)

A grid hook-up point less than 500 metres from the water source – unless the Screw is being used for ‘off grid’ generation only.

If your site satisfies these criteria then there’s every chance you will be able to harness the power of the waterway to generate hydroelectricity. And Mann Power will be delighted to pilot your scheme all the way through to delivery.